question_answer 41)

  Give the biochemical composition of plasma membrane. How are lipid molecules arranged in the membrane?

Answer:

                Chemical composition of plasma membrane

Component	Composition
Lipids	(20-79%)
Proteins	(20-70%)
Carbohydrates	(1-5%)
Water	20%

Lipids are the major components of the cell membrane as they form the continuousstructural frame of the cell membrane. Lipids such as phospholipids, glycolip.ds, andsteroids are found in membranes. The lipid molecule possess both polar hydrophilic (water loving) and non-polar hydrophobia(water repelling) ends. The hydrophilic region is in the form of a head, while the hydrophobicpart contains two tails of fatty acid. Hydrophobic tail is present towards the centre of the membrane. This structures results is the formation of lipid bilayer known as unit membrane/biological membrane/cell membrane.